Purpose: This paper aims to apply the system evaluation theory (SET) to analyze the institutional quality standards of Oman Academic Accreditation Authority using the results chain and value chain tools. Design/methodology/approach: In systems thinking, the institutional standards are connected as input, process, output and feedback and leads to the achievement of the final result. This allows the analysis of the value-creating chain of activities and the chain of results. Quality assurance can be achieved by higher education institutions when these standards and criteria are viewed as a chain of achievable results and value creating activities. Findings: The output of the analysis is a results chain and value chain map of institutional quality standards that will be useful in strategic management and quality standards compliance. Research limitations/implications: The research used secondary data and focused on the higher education experience in the Sultanate of Oman. Practical implications: A proposed framework for preparing for accreditation is presented; this is significant for higher education institutions undergoing or about to undergo institutional accreditation for the first time. Social implications: Higher education institutions in Oman which are preparing for their first institutional accreditation should benefit from this article. Originality/value: The Sultanate of Oman is implementing the institutional standards approved for all higher education institutions only in March 2016. This is the first research article written from the perspective of the first higher education institution in Oman to undergo institutional accreditation.